I was just about to push the button on ordering some Sportlines for the 'vert, when I went to the Eibach site and saw that they were supposed to be 'excluded' from use on convertibles. I called Eibach and the guy said they weren't recommending them because of "ride height issues" but he didn't know firsthand how it would sit, rubbing, etc.

Is anyone running Sportlines on their vert?

I'm still on factory 16" rims if that matters.

 

I'm running sportlines right now on my bird. Actually sportlines with a 1/4 coil cut on them.

 

Wow - you must be freaking low! Are you scraping/rubbing/bottoming out? What size wheels are you running? Did you ever run them before you cut the coils? if so, how were they?

Anyone else?

 

I'm not low enough actually.

Stock wheels/tire size. The only time I scraped was when I had that poorly assembled spohn t56 xmember. It hung down an extra ~2" Eventually I scrapped it down so it wasn't as much of a problem but I swapped to a different xmember anyways.

 

I went to your cardomain site and it said you were only runnin the Eibach's in the front - have you changed since then?
Also, I know you said you weren't rubbing - how about your handling? Skittish around corners? Oversteer?

 

I don't think I've even looked at my cardomain in months. Yeah, eibachs all around. For a bit I was just using cut down stock f41 springs and those seemed to match the fronts.

Handling is okay. I don't have a lot of power so it's a rather moot point but lower speeds it tends to understeer unless I throttle out hard and high speeds it's pretty neutral.

The car is a wet noodle. I want to stiffen it up before I do much else.

 

I am running Eibach springs on my 87 and GR2 shocks/struts. The only time I have bottomed out was going about 70 on a back road and there was an abnormally large bump in the road. Shook my teeth, but under normal circumstances I don't have any issues. Now as far as the crossmember, I too am running the bohemouth Spoohn crossmember and the other day I thought I got the car stuck when pulling out of a driveway. It rubbed so loud I thought I might have left the trany back in the parking lot. OH and I am running 17" SS (SLP) rims and GY F1 tires.

 

iansane - I hear you on the wet noodle- I am staring at a set of Spohn SFC's, and I'm waiting for the Alston SFC's and an Edelbrock strut tower brace I ordered last week to show up. I just can't take that "creaky old car" feeling anymore - especially with the top up, it's all you can hear. Anyway, I guess I'll order the Sportlines - the ProKits would probably be the same as my saggy stock springs and I really want to close that fender gap.

SilverDragon - QUOTE -[I am running Eibach springs on my 87] Are those Sportlines or Prokits?

 

Cra-z-canuck,
Do you think you are going to have the same problem installing the Spohn SFc's that I had? My post was called "aborted spohn SFC install" I think. I posted it in the convertible and the chasis forums. The post was about 4 weeks ago.
One of the problems is the ASC installed rivets that hold the brace in.

 

I'm assuming that the problem was that you or your shop was putting them on without loading the suspension (ie. a drive-on ramp). I'm hoping that was the problem anyway! I have a great shop that is going to do the work.

 

Not having the suspension loaded was one of the problems. The other was the rivets that ASC used to attach their supports, hung down about 3/8 inch from the floor pan. It is going to be hard to weld the SFC to the floor pan with the rivets in the way.

Here is a pic.

 

Sportlines on one of my verts with no problems with wither the 16" stock or 17" after market wheels.

 

Yeah, I checked on TireRack and I bought the PRO KIT. it sits quite a bit lower than stock, but I'm not sure what will happen when I put a new engine in with Aluminum heads later this year. I was looking at the difference between the Sportline and Pro Kit and its about .6" front and .3" rear, I think you could get away with the rear, but the front would be tight. What kind of shocks/struts are you guys running. The guy at Tirerack did not recommend going with the KYB GR2 setup, but the money at the time was a huge jump to go to the AGX gas Adjust. I wish I had done it now, but hind sight is alway 2020. Any feedback on what shocks/struts people are using would be helpful. If anyone has done the Sportline please let me know what other suspension components you are using.

 

you shouldn't really have a problem at all with spohn subframe connectors i have them on my white vert and the fit right in no problems. it will definatelly help alot i also welded mine in ever 3 1/2 inches so they definatelly where in. i think they recommend every 6 inches for welds. for weld them u will want your car on drive on lift or the car sitting on the ground to fit right.

 

I doubt you'll notice much difference in height. They'll probably just level out your car and be stiffer. The prokit is pretty similar to most stock sagging springs.

As for other suspension stuff, I'm running the bilstein HDs and tubular links and such. If you do the sportline thing I'd reccoment extended strut mounts because right now I've only got ~1.5-2" of strut travel. And it's not in the optimum part of the strut.

 

What is an "extended strut mount", and where do I get one?

Everytime I think I'm ready to order the Sportlines I get cold feet - today the guy at shox.com asked if really wanted the Sportlines because of the "crappy roads and potholes in Canada"

 

See the red things? They allow for long strut travel with a lowered suspension. They're taller than the stockers. It helps bring the strut back into it's "sweet spot"

 

The PRO-KIT dropped my RS about 1.25" in front, 1" in rear. Plenty low for practical street driving. With driveways, potholes, speed bumps, etc., I can't imagine city driving with the Sportlines. If you want driveability, I'd recommend against the Sportlines.

 

Never seen that before. That is cool.

 

yeah ive never seen those either. I'm running tokico high perfrmance in the front and tokico illumina series in the rear with eibach prokit springs. THe only thing that scraps is the SFC's. I have to go over the speed bumps ssslllooowww cause I grind my teeth when I here it scrape. As far as handeling, I redid all my rear suspension with poly bushings. I think it handles GREAT!!!

 

Those red strut mounts Im guessing are the HMS units. Aluminum version of what spohn now makes out of steel which wont fatigue like the aluminum units have been accused of.

Check their website, theyre the "fabricated steel strut mounts" (or something similar to that wording) for more information.

 

i have the sportlines on my 87 convertible for the last six years with new firehawk 17x9.5 wheels on and i think it looks kick *** go tomy club site northstar camaro club of minnesota and look at chris williams 87 iroc

 

So far I've only heard of one person that has has the aluminum versions "fatigue"

Either way, I'm glad someone is now making those things at all.

Now I'm running 295/35-18s on the rear and I still don't rub.